Gap indicating mechanism for railway switch signals



NOV. 1, 1932. R. S. MCELH L$85 4 GAP INDICATING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAYSWITCH SIGNALS Filed June 24, 1931 2 Sheets-Shem l Inn/ENTER ZMMMMHTTQRNY a W M+ N 1932- R. s. MGELHANEY GAP INDIGATING MECHANISM FORRAILWAY SWITCH SIGNALS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 24, 1951 A HTTciRN YPatented Nov. 1, 1932 ROBERT? S, MGELHAN EY, F SHADYSIDE, OHIO GAEINDICATING- MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY SWITCH SIGNALS Application filed June24,

tion with a" signal of the character mentioned,

automatic control mechanism adapted alike to actuate said signal to its.warning, or danger-indicating, position whether the shiftable switchpoint occupies its. fully open or apartially open position A stillfurther object is'tol provide a signal of the character mentionedassociated with manually operated mechanism for. effecting throwing ofthe switch toand from openposition, and adapted for Visually indicatingthe presence of gaps between the switch points-and thetraclt rails, aswhen' such points are not fully seated, suchmechanism being operahl'ewithout disturbance of the automatiocontrol mechanism;

With these and other obj'ectsjin view,. the invention resides in thefeatures of construction; arrangement ofparts, and combinations ofelements which will hereinafterbe described referencebeing bad to theaccompanyingdrawings,,in which' a V Figure-1 is a plan-view of arailwayswitchequipped with my invention Figure 2 is an'enlargedlsectionon line2-42, Fig; 1

Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan View of the casihgfor thetrigger-release and the therewith associated parts, the cover'for saidcasing being removed Figure-.S-is-ascction-online-5 5;Fig. 4

Figure 6- is an enlarged section on line 6-6, Fig; 2

Figure-7 is a sect-ion'on'li ne 77, 6;

Figures 8 9, 1'0 and 1 1' are'sections taken on line .8 8', Fig. 2,showingvarious positions of the rotary'cain' relative to the'roller ofthe automatic signal operating, mechanism; and

Figure 12- is anunderside elevation of the 1931-. Serial No. 546,4 1.

crank and bridle by means of which the switch points are shifted.

Referring'to said drawings, 1 andQ designate switch points which arelaterally shiftable relative to'stationary track rails'3 and 4,respectively,.said switch points being maintained in relativelyspacedrelation by means of a transverse bridle 5 upon which both are rigidlymounted; Said bridle has pivotally' connected to an end thereof a togglelink or arm 6 which has its opposite end pivoted upon the wrist pin 7 ofa crank 8 fixed on the lower'end of an upright rotary signal standard19;While said crank 8 is herein shown ashaving disk form, such maymanifestly be provided in various other forms, as desired.-

The standard 9 has its lower end portion journaled in the base portion10 of a casing -which isidesignated generally by the reference character10 and which is rigidly mounted laterally of the trackway; as upon. theextended ends of crossties' 11'. Said standard. projects upwardlythrough the top of said casing 10 and has seated upon its upper end' asignal lamp 12 ofan ordinary'typ'e designed to be rotated throughout a90 arc for displaying differently colored signal lights indicating;respectively open and closed positions of the switch.

A tu'hulanmemher 13. loosely embraces the upper end portion of saidstandard and has said lamp removably seated thereon. The lower endofsaid inembenwhich is provided with opposite longitudinallyextending'open slots M, is received within aneck' portion 10 formed onthetop of said casing 10andi has therein a counterbore 15 of enlargeddiameter in. which is loosely received the upper end of azsleeve 16which is adapted for both vertical and rotary shifting movements onsaid" standard; as will hereinafter be explained;

Fixed upon the standard 9 within the lower part ofthe casing 10: is'abevel gear 17- which has operatively engaged therewith a bevel gear 18carried on the inner end of a suitably journaled horizontal shaft 19which projects outwardly through said casing and carries upon itsouterend aishiitleV'er'QO of r the usual weighted: type employed for'manually' throwing the switch points of railway switches. Said lever isshiftable, as ordinarily throughout 180 to and from the switch-closingposition shown in Fig. 1, being received at the opposite limits of itsmovement by suitable supports, as 21 and 22. The gears 17 and 18 are soproportioned relatively that in each approximate half revolution of thegear 18, actuated by shifting of the lever 20 from either of its limitsof movement to the other, the gear 17 is rotated throughoutapproximatelya quarter revolution for turning the standard 9 and thesuperposed lamp 12 throughout a corresponding part of a revolution.Obviously, such movement simultaneously effects, through the intermediacy of the crank 8 and the theretoconnected bridle 5, theshifting of the switch points 1 and 2 from one limit of movement to theother.

Received within the open slots 14: of the tubular member 13,hereinbefore referred to,

are oppositely disposed pins 23 fixed in the upper end portion of thesleeve 16. Said sleeve has'therein opposite diagonally extending, orspirally inclined, slots 24 in which are received oppositely disposedpins 25 fixed in the standard 9, asshown in Figs. 2 and 6. In the closedposition of the shift able switch points, said sleeve 16 occupies itselevated position wherein the pins 23 aredisposed at the upper ends ofsaid slots 14 and the pins 25 are disposed at the lower ends of theslots 24.

Formed on the lower end of said sleeve 16 is an annular collar or flange26 which occupies loosely embraced position within a central circularsocket 27 provided therefor in a head 28 formed on the upper end of asecond sleeve 29 within which the standard 9 is relatively rotatable. A.cap 28 rigidly mounted upon said head 28 in overlying relation to saidflange 26 serves to retain said sleeve 16 and 29 against relativelongitudinaly movement while permitting independent rotary movement ofthe sleeve 16. Oppositely disposed pins or trunnions 3O fixed in saidsleeve 29 have pivoted thereon the opposite members of asleeve-encircling yoke 31 formed intermediate the ends of theapproximately horizontal arm 32 of a bell-crank lever 32. Said arm .32crosses the interior of the casing 10 and has that end thereof adjacentto its related arm 32 projecting outwardly through an opening 33provided therefor in the wall of said casing. Said lever is pivotallymounted at or adjacent to the angle between its said arms 32 and 32"upon a support, as the casing-carried bracket 34. The arm 32 occupies apendent position and has its lower end pivotally attached to an end of aconnecting rod 35 which thence extends horizontally toward the trackwaywith its op posite end projecting into the interior of a box-likehousing 36 through an aperture 37 provided in the outer wall of thelatter.

The housing 36 is suitably mounted, as upon said cross-ties 11, adjacentto the outer side of the track rail 3. Suitably journaled within saidhousing is a horizontal shaft 38 which substantially parallels saidtrack rail and which has formed therein or thereon crank 39, hereinshown as of Uform, to which is attached the adjacent end of theconnecting rod and which, in the closed position of the switch point 1,occupies upstanding position, as shown inFigs. 2, 3 and 4t. Rigidlycarried by said shaft and disposed normally in a horizontal position isan arm 40, herein shown as of flat plate-like form, wherein its free endoverlies and is supported by the adjacent extreme edge portion of aproject- .ing ledge or lip 41 formed on a head-like member 42 which .isrigidly carried upon the upper end of an upright post 43. Said post,which is rigidly carried by, or forms anintegral part of, a horizontalarm 4% that extends transversely beneath the track rail 3, is shiftablewith movements of said arm id, as will presently be explained, suchshifting being permitted by the provision of a suitable opening or slot45 in the bottom of said housing 36. I

The arm 44 is carried in fixed relation to the pointed end of the switchpoint 1, being preferably formed as an integral part of a bar or plate46 which is bolted upon and projects forwardly from said pointed end ofsaid switch point, as shown. A pin a; directed horizontally through thehead 42 of the post 13 has its opposite ends horizontally shiftable inchannels l8 provided therefor in transverse walls of the housing 236, asshown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

In the normal position of the parts, wherein the switch point 1 occupiesseated relation to the track rail 3, the bell-crank 32 is disposed withits arm 32 in substantially the full line position shown in Fig. 2, theouter end thereof being elevated to the extent that a roller 49 carriedthereby is wholly removed from engagement with, and occupies theelevated position shown in Fig. 8, relative to a cam 50 which is fixedupon the shaft 19 of the switch-throwing mechanism hereinbeforedescribed. Said position of the bell crank is maintained through theintermediaoy of the crankshaft 38 and the connecting rod 35, the arm 40of said crankshaft being supported against movement from its horizontalposition by the underlying edge portion of the lip 41 of the head d2 ofthe post 41. With the bell crank occupying its said normal po-- sition,the relatively connected sleeves 16 and 29 are thereby supported intheir elevated positions on the standard 9 wherein the lamp 12 isdisposed in safety-indicating position, as are also the cross-arms 51carried by the tubular member 13.

Vhen the shift lever 20 is manually swung from its support 21 to theopposite support danger, or caution, signals. Such rotation is effected,first, through the rotary movement imparted through the gear 17 to thestandard 9; thence to the sleeve 16 through the standard-carried pins 25engaged therewith at the lower ends of the slots 24. thereof; thence tocarried pins 23 engaged therewith at the upper ends of the open slots 14thereof.

Return shifting of said shift lever reverses the movements ustdescribed, returning the tubular member 13 and the thereby carried lamp12 to safety indicating positions.

At the beginning of the above described switch-opening movement of theparts effected by manual throwing of the shift lever 20, a nose 5Oformed at the highest part of the cam 50 and oif which the roller 49borne by the'bell crank arm 32 rides just prior to seating of said levervith respect to its any port 21, promptly engages the adjacent underside of said roller and thrusts the latter to a slightly elevatedposition as it moves into underlying relation thereto. This slightelevating movement acts through the bell crank 32, the connecting rod35, and the crank shaft 38 slightly to elevate the arm 4.0 from the camrides from beneath said roller at the end of the switch closingmovement, the arm 40 is permitted to drop to the position wherein it isagain supported by said lip 41.

Should the switch point 1 fail to fully close, as by reason of anunnoticed obstruction preventing seating of said point against the rail3, the lip 41 will thereby be prevented from assuming underlyingrelation to the arm 40 of the crankshaft 38. Thus, when the cam ridesfrom beneath the roller 4C9, the impulse resultant upon the drop of theouter end of the bell crank 32 and the therewith associated movableparts, together with the weight of said parts, will carry the latterunobstructedly to the dotted l1ne positions indicated in Figs. 2, 5 and8. With such downward movement of the a ms 32 of the in the inclinedslots 24 thereof cooperate with the "pins 25 of said standard to rotatethroughout a quarter revolution for actuat ing corresponding rotation ofthe therewith interengaged tubular member 13 carrying the lamp 12, thuspositioning said lamp and the signal arms to display the warning signal.

In the event that, following closing of the switch, the switch point 1should unauthorthe tubular member 13- through the sleeveizeidy orunintentionally be shifted, either wholly or throughout the slight.distance which might create a hazard, the lip 41 is thereby withdrawnfrom supporting relation to the arm 40 of the crankshaft, whereupon thehereinbefore described parts constituting the automatic signal operatingmechanism will be permitted to gravitate in the manner last abovedescribed for actuating the lamp and the signal arms to assume warningpositions.

The cam 50 is designed to provide means whereby the parts of theautomatic signal operating mechanism described may be restored to vtheirnormal positions. following operation thereof, as when the obstructionprevei'iting closing of the switch has been removed, by the mere act ofthrowing the shift lever 20 to switch opening posit-ion and returning itto switch closing position. A ledge 53 is provided on the cam andreceives thereon the roller d9 at the limit of the downward dropof thelatter when the automatic signal operating mechanism is called intoplay, as described. Said ledge is coincident with a second cam surface54: whereon said roller may travel to the outer peripheral surface 52where on said roller has normal travel, meeting said surface 52 at apoint adjacent to the limit of the switch-closing rotation of said cam.Said cam surface 5% is formed, first, by the provision in the inner faceof said cam of a curved groove or channel 55 beneath the nose 50, and,second, by the formation in said inner face of a recess 56 which extendsoutwardly through the peripheral. cam surface 52, as shown. A tongue 57is pivotally mounted upon the cam within the front end of said recess.56 and normally occupies the position shown in Figs. 8, 10 and 11wherein its outer surface complements and coincides with said peripheralcam surface 52, being yieldingly retained in said position, as by a thinleaf spring 58 which has an end rigidly attached to said cam adjacent tothe nose t iereof and which has its other end portion disposed inoverlying seated relation to said tongue.

As the cam is rotated toward switch-opening position, the roller 49enters the channel 55 and travels upon the cam surface 54 until it risesto the peripheral surface 52 at the approximate point of. rest shown inFig.10. In its said travel the point of the tongue 57 is elevatedthereby and ridesv thereon, as in dicated in Fig. 9. In the normalforward and reverse travel of the cam, said roller rides over saidtongue, as shown in Fig. 11, the outer surface of the tongue beingcoincident with the peripheral cam surface 52.

VJh at is claimed is 1. A. gap indicating signal for railway switch.points including a rotatable standard, means connecting the switch pointand standard, means for actuating the switch point and standard inunison, a rotatable and vertically movable signal on said standard,means carried by the actuating means for n'ioving the signal to itselevated position, latch means for retaining the signal in its elevatedposition, and means carried by the switch point for releasing the latchand thereby the signal to permit the latter to move to its signallingposition upon unauthorized movement of the switch point.

2. A combination of a railway switch and means for manually opening andclosing said switch, said means including a rotatable shaft, of astandard adapted for rotary movements with switch actuating movements ofsaid manual means, a signal carried by said standard and adapted forrotary shitting movements independent of the latter, mechanisminterposed between said switch and signal whereby the latter isantomatically rotated to warning position independently of the movementof said standard when the switch assumes a partially open position, anda cam carried by said shaft for restoring said signal to its normalinoperative position when the switch is moved to its closed positionupon operation of said manual means.

i 3. A gap indicating signal for railway switch points including arotatable stand ard, means connecting the switch point and standard,means for actuating said switch point and standard in unison, a signalcarried by said standard, said signal having a rotative movementindependent of said standard. when the switch assumes a partially openedposition, means carried by the actuating means for moving the signal toits n-onsignalling position independent of the standard, and means forreleasing the signal whereby to permit the latter to move to itssignalling position independent of said standard upon unauthorizedmovement of the switch point.

i. A gap indicating signal for railway switch points including asupport, a rotatable standard mounted on said support, means connectingthe switch point and standard, means for actuating the switch point andstandard in unison, a vertically movable signal carried by said standardhaving a movement independent of said standard upon unauthorizedmovement of the switch point, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends tosaid support and having a por- ROBERT S. MCELHANEY.

